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Zandiziite-hopeful "Fleet-Foot" of Skalamar! - Dessysalta's Unathi Whitelist

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dessysalta Chief Medical Officer

dessysalta

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BYOND Key: Dessysalta

Character Names: 

  • Sherrie Scott 
  • Ashlyn Rushine 
  • Kira Vasquez (Main)
  • GOLD-ALECTO
  • Eimhir Fenella 
  • Rodrigo Valdez
  • Dhaval Hiyan

Species you are applying to play: Unathi

What color do you plan on making your first alien character: Skalamar Red

Have you read our lore section's page on this species?: Yup!

Why do you wish to play this specific race?:

If I were to lead with something more charming than serious, it was a spur-of-the-moment decision a couple weeks ago after I realized how much I loved lizard-esque characters not only on Aurora, but servers like TG and such. Particularly, Suvek Tokash, Bloodclaw, and Ra’Sep Re-Tep (TG) caught my eye and had me realize that non-humans are just as interesting as their human counterparts, with more in-depth lore than they’re given credit for. It wasn’t until recently that I actually took much of an interest in them, as I was unfortunately encouraged not to bother with other species after the first server I played on (TG) encouraged speciesism with synthetics and command, making playing as that race a death sentence for most antag rounds and not exactly providing a place to go for longer-term characters. Playing on Aurora has reignited my love for nonhumans and led me to the realization that even if there's ups and downs of playing a race, that doesn't make them any less important or interesting.

A deeper answer would be to state my liking to the nuances of Unathi culture and traditions, such as the usage of clans and their names in commonplace reference. Placing a heavy emphasis on family means there is that much more drama or emphasis when they are embraced—or rejected; I love the subtle complexities that are associated with these cultural differences, such as an inherently more lighthearted (and sometimes far more brutal or heavy-hitting) response and view of combat and in turn how that affects their consciousness or their ideas of the people around them, or how their beliefs are based less in typical monotheism and more polytheistic, archaic systems.

Identify what makes role-playing this species different than role-playing a Human:

A Unathi has, as mentioned above, a greater meaning placed on their family and clan/society rather than their person, but by no means is any less of an individual. Their societal hierarchies and collective clans, and ritualistic vows and lifestyles, are something that could be seen as extreme or even absurd for humans, but are clear as day and completely normal (even respected) for Unathi. Even the obvious change of biology is worth noting, given a Unathi is going to have a fundamentally different answer to a situation depending on what weapons are being used, what the environment around them is like, or who they’re going up against in the first place—or even if they view whatever conflict occurring is worth the trouble of surrendering or avoiding as a human might or might not. The oldest and most widespread Unathi religion is also rooted in their surroundings and family, with Th’akh placing importance on respect for ancestors and the dead in the belief that it will lead to fortune once their own soul has passed on and joined the spirit world—or the subjectively different fate to be reincarnated.

In short: I think there’s a ceremonial take on society that Unathi embody, and stronger still how much play emotions and honor have in their masses in comparison to us. I like this dichotomy and think Unathi resemble our nonstandard traditions symbolically, and do so in a way that humans never could with their differences in biology, upbringing, and communities.

 

Character Name: Kasa'an Drek'za

Please provide a short backstory for this character:

The Drek'za clan has its roots placed in The Untouched Lands, Skalamar. Its origins, and by extent Kasa'an’s, are placed in ceremonial and recreational combat, with a heavier emphasis placed on duels based on slights or scores to be settled. Further back in the ancestry of the Drek'za clan can you find notable Kataphracts (and Kataphract-Hopefuls) and warriors that dedicated themselves to the Warrior’s Code of Honor and defense of the Hegemony. In recent years there has been an uprising in more bloodthirsty Sinta in the clan that wish less for outright combat and more so the deeply-ingrained high or “adrenaline rush” that is gained from defeating an opponent. While these Unathi still represent the Drek'za clan in all that it stands for, that of which being unfaltering determination and strength of will, among them was Kasa'an, who locked his eyes less on war and more on sport.

The clan of Drek’za is a persevering one, full of blood and grit before the Contact War and much more optimism-controlled, aggressively so nowadays. Common figures mentioned in the Drek’za are Sakax Razi, for his strength and leadership in the Hegemony, and the legend of Kazani, for the unwavering devotion to absolving a deadly, painful mistake. Kasa’an’s immediate family, such as his brother Thrall’ma or his sister Noswi (endearingly nicknamed Thrall and Noss respectively on warm, slow days) taught him the value of self-righteous indulgence (from Thrall’ma, who would inevitably be caught by the clan several times a year venturing outside of “safe” boundaries and environments for the sake of charming settings or pleasing sights) and strategic debate (from Noswi, who was experienced enough at a young age to engage even seasoned, aged guildsmen in bartering and haggling), although Kasa'an never quite had a mind for the latter.

Kasa'an’s ultimate goal for his twenty-four years of life has been to compete in the Zandiziite Games for both his birthplace and clan, and has spoke highly of the Games nearly as soon as he was able to. He was not the only one of his clan who wished to prove himself more in sport than in warfare, but he might have been the most adamant about it, his time served after the Contact War had concluded being dedicated to do battle with others, “only when their resssolution begged for it,” and, “when neither sssenssse nor bloodline could sssstop them.” Of course, these circumstances include honorable duels, self-defense, and most importantly, the Zandiziite Games. 

With such a high regard for these things (if you could call it that), one might expect Kasa'an to stay on his homeworld of Moghes or otherwise assume an offensive position in a fleet or some other kind of profession, but as it stood he went on to pursue a more civilian or passive career, having focused his strength in things such as pushing beaten vehicles, aiding in the suppression or wrangling of rowdy fauna, or nowadays pushing/pulling cargo and supplies. When he learned of the corporations that made up the Conglomerate, he asked himself, and soon his clan's lord, if there was any more noble way of achieving his goal than by journeying off the very planet he was hatched on and into the galaxy, where millions of unknown certainties and terrors might await. With his blessing, and having now secured a contract with Zephyr Shipping Company (Orion Express), Kasa'an seeks to work:

“Until I have fallen down and realizssed that my ssssnout yearnsss for a massk to be placssed upon it.”

Once all is just so, he will return to his homeland and fight with every scale on his body to become Zandiziite "Fleet-Foot" of Skalamar.

 

What do you like about this character?

While coming up with the Drek'za clan and how this Unathi belongs to it, I unfortunately (READ: extremely fortunately) fell back onto a trope I love to death: “fighting is awesome.” I love the idea in my head of playing a Unathi that works aboard the Horizon not for monetary gain but for a particular reason that he values above traditional human views and is doing his absolute damndest to achieve in his eyes. I like being able to write strong, enthusiastically friendly and hopeful characters, and I have every intention for Drek'za to throw his arm around a close friend’s neck and almost yank them out of their seat as a sign of affection.

I also really like the idea of routine sparring with him and either the other Unathi or anyone else on board the Horizon, and how much of his person will change from now to the time he's sent back to Moghes. I hope I can accomplish writing his sheer power of will and make him a big, bright light for the rest of the crew to look up to, given that's what he aims to be in a way.

 

How would you rate your role-playing ability?

I like to think I’m decent. Before SS13 grabbed ahold of me I was much more used to long-form writing, and dialogue as of late has been a breeze. If you want a number on a scale from 1-10, I’d say 8.

 

Notes: Given that this will be the first alien race I want to consistently play, I would love pointers or questions regarding Drek'za’s past if there’s anything that is either unclear or misunderstood/incorrect.

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